Austria Again Tries to Stop Art Theft Case

Austria has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to stay a federal appellate decision that would allow a Nazi art theft case to go forward in U.S. court.

Maria Altmann of West Los Angeles is suing Austria to reclaim paintings by Gustav Klimt valued at $150 million and now owned by the Austrian National Museum. Altmann claims that the paintings, stolen by the Nazis, belonged to her uncle.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on April 28 denied Austria’s request for reconsideration of a previous decision allowing the lawsuit to go to trial in Los Angeles.

Austria has consistently argued that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction in the case and said it would file a high court appeal if the case were allowed to go forward.

“This is yet another stall and delay tactic by Austria,” said Randol Schoenberg, Altmann’s attorney. “My client is 87 years old. They want to prevent her from having her day in court.”

Schoenberg said he had been told that a decision on the stay would probably be made next week.

Scott Cooper and Jonathan Rich, two attorneys representing Austria, could not be reached for comment late Friday.